Improved horizontal water-wheel



UNITED STATES i PATENT EEICE.

ROBERT ROSS, OF ST. ALBANS, VERMONT, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF AND v- GEORGE ,.I. STANNARD, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVED HORIZONTAL WATER-WHEEL.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 27,673, dated March 27, 1860.

.T0 a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT ROSS, of St. Albans, in the county of Franklin and State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Horizontal Tater-Wheels; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure' l is a Vertical section of my invention, taken in the line 5c Fig. 2; Fig. 2, a horizontal section of the same, taken in the line y y, Fig. l; Fig. 3, a section of the same, taken in the line z z, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

The object of this invention is to obtain a center-vent Water-wheel that may have its capacity readily varied, according to the power required, and a uniform speed obtained with a varying power, as occasion may require.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention, I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a scroll, in which a wheel B is placed. This wheel B is formed of a circular plate ce, provided at its under side with radial bucketsb, and attached to a shaft C, which has its bearings in a suitable frame c, attached to the upper surface of the scroll. The scroll A has a center vent cx, concentric with the wheel B.

Vithin the scroll A a horizontal plate D is fitted. This plate forms a partition in the scroll, and it encompasses a circular plate E, which is attached to the lower end of a shaft F, iitted within the shaft C, and is connected at its upper end to a frame G by means of a pin d, which passes through an oblong vertical slot e in the shaft C and rests in a recess f at the center of the frame G, as shown clearly in Fig. l. The buckets b of the wheel B pass through slots in the plate E. The partition-plate D is also attached by rods g to the frame G, said rods passing through the top of the scroll. The plates D E are allowed to rise and fall freely within the scroll A, the shaft C passing loosely through the center of frame G. The end of the plate D at the orice of the scroll A is provided with a vertical projection h, which is tted within a socket t' at the orifice of the scroll, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, a space j being allowed between the back of the projection 7L and the back of the socket.

From the above description it will be seen that if the plates D and E be elevated to their full height the wheel will be adjusted to its greatest workin g capacity, and that the capacity of the Wheel will be proportionably decreased as the plates D E are lowered, said plates serving as a partit-ion to contract the scroll and the wheel. The action of the water on the buckets b is the same as usual, the wheel being submerged and the water passing through the scroll and out or through vent 0X. When the plates D E are lowered, water is allowed to pass through the space j into the space between the plates D E and the top of the scroll. This allows the wheel to run in a state of equipoise and prevents much friction that would otherwise occur by the upward pressure of the water against the wheel. A governornnay be applied to the frame G, so as to regulate the speed of the Wheel by the raising and lowering of the plates D E. The velocity of the wheel, also, may be rendered constant and a greater or less power obtained, as may be required, or as the supply of water will allow, by adjusting the plates D E at the required height. The arrangement of the projection h and socket-fi admits of the water entering through the space j and being forced therefrom, as the plates D Enare raised and lowered without interfering with the water that passes direct into the scroll A.

I do not claim the dividing of a scroll or the water-passages of a wheel by means of an adjustable partition plate to regulate the speed of a water-wheel, for each device has been previously used, and may be seen differently arranged from the plan herein shown in Letters Patent formerly granted to me and George J. Stannard, bearing date .I une 14, 1859; but,

Having thus described my invention, what I do claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The arrangement,in acenter-,vent watern wheel, of the plates D E, fitted, respectively, projection and the back part of the socket, into the scroll and to the Wheel, as described, for the purpose specified. and connected to the frame G, to operate as and for the purpose set forth. ROBERT ROSS.

2. In connection with the above, the proj eclVitnesses:

tion h at the end of plate D, when fitted in JEPTHA BRADLEY,

the socket z', to leave a space j between the J'. YV. NEWTON. 

